Terry Beech, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (B.C.), on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, will announce support for safe long-term care in British Columbia.

Vernon, British Columbia, August 12, 2021—The governments of Canada and British Columbia continue to invest in local infrastructure during this unprecedented time to meet the needs of communities across the province, enhance people’s quality of life, and support economic recovery from COVID-19.

Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced an investment of up to $340 million in new funding over five years to support Indigenous leadership in nature conservation, as part of Canada’s historic Budget 2021 investment of $2.3 billion over five years in nature conservation.

Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, announced an agreement with Prince Edward Island to provide it with more than $6 million for Safe Long-term Care. This funding will support the improvement of infection prevention and control in Prince Edward Island’s facilities that deliver long-term care.

The Honourable David Lametti, P.C., Q.C., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, accompanied by Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General Arif Virani, and MPs Gary Anandasangaree (Scarborough-Rouge Park) and Marci Ien (Toronto Centre) will make an announcement on funding related to Impact of Race and Culture Assessments.

Today’s investment of $800,000 in mental health funding from the Government of Canada will help support community-based programs in mental health promotion, to increase health equity and address the underlying determinants of health. This funding will directly help develop and implement culturally focused mental health programs for Black Canadian youth.

Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, announced an investment of up to $800,000 in mental health funding for two organizations to promote mental health and wellbeing in our communities, and to address health equity by tackling systemic challenges and barriers faced by Black Canadian youth.

As part of Budget 2021, the Government of Canada is making historic new investments in Indigenous infrastructure to address critical infrastructure gaps and improve economic, social and health outcomes in their communities.

Today, the Honourable Jim Carr, the Government of Canada’s Special Representative for the Prairies, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Ric McIver, Alberta’s Minister of Transportation and Municipal Affairs, announced funding for a transit hub and park and ride facility in Spruce Grove, as well as Smart Fare equipment in Spruce Grove, and the purchase of Smart Fare and Smart Bus technology in Fort Saskatchewan and Leduc, under the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada plan. These projects will improve the quality and safety of the cities’ transit systems.

Today, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Rob Fleming, B.C. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, announced joint funding of $282,500 to install two bus shelters for the new RapidBus station located on Highway 97 and Sexsmith Road in Kelowna, B.C.

The Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, will announce funding to create employment training opportunities for persons with disabilities.

In recent years, the pulp and paper sector sector has faced global competitive challenges due to shifts in consumer demands, lower prices, and supply shortages. Mills continue to innovate to remain competitive in a challenging environment. The University of British Columbia - BioProducts Institute is receiving funding to support this innovation.

On August 5, 2021, the Government of Canada announced the creation of Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) and Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan). Media who wish to follow the news and happenings of the two new agencies should bookmark the following links.

The Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, the Honourable Lorne Kusugak, Government of Nunavut Minister of Health, and Aluki Kotierk, President of the Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated will announce investments for a new recovery centre in Nunavut. The announcement will be followed by a media availability.

Minister Fortier to announce support for Black entrepreneurs and Black-led businesses across Ontario and Quebec

Today, Bobby Morrissey, Member of Parliament for Egmont, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable Dennis King, Premier of Prince Edward Island, and John Smallwood, Executive Director of Community Connections Inc., announced funding to upgrade and expand Community Connections, a facility to provide support services to adults with intellectual disabilities in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories – Member of Parliament Michael McLeod, on behalf of the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, will make an important announcement about infrastructure funding. MP McLeod will be joined by the Honourable Diane Archie, Deputy Premier, Minister of Infrastructure and Minister Responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.

This notice is to inform all mariners about temporary vessel traffic restrictions during an expected increase in the number of people using the St. Clair River in an event known as the Port Huron Float Down on Sunday, August 15, 2021.

Today, the Honourable Larry Bagnell, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency) and Member of Parliament for Yukon; the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Federal Minister of Northern Affairs; the Honourable Richard Mostyn, Yukon Minister for Community Services; Jackie Olson, President of the Klondike Development Organization (KDO); and His Worship Wayne Potoroka, Mayor of Dawson City, announced joint funding for the construction of a solar power project in Dawson City.

Violence towards First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women and girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people is an ongoing national tragedy that all governments and Indigenous partners are working together to address.

Pacific Economic Development Canada will better serve the needs of local businesses, communities, and people in British Columbia.

Waterton Lakes National Park and Glacier National Park now form the first IDA-certified international transboundary Dark Sky Park.

Today the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, announced an agreement with the Northwest Territories (NWT) to provide it with more than $3.1 million for Safe Long-term Care.

Today, Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, announces an open and competitive call for proposals under the Research and Knowledge Initiative (RKI) to strengthen the development and use of community-level data and research, supporting more evidence- and results-based approaches to public infrastructure programs and investments in cities, rural and remote, and Indigenous communities across Canada. The Research and Knowledge Initiative, a merit-based contributions program, aims to facilitate collaboration and partnership among key public infrastructure actors and stakeholders, and support data, research, and knowledge-sharing activities.

Marcus Powlowski, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay—Rainy River will be joined by Terry Sheehan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for FedNor, to announce FedNor funding in support of regional air transportation in Northwestern Ontario.